15 June 2006
Sirius was completely and utterly exhausted. The Wizengamont session had lasted nearly ten hours- from nine in the morning to six thirty at night. And a large portion of the time had been spent discussing the new bill he introduced. The bill, for the most part was fairly popular. It proposed that the ministry help pay for medical treatments at St. Mungos for victims of "dark magic, curses, hexes, and such." While some members of the Wizengamont had argued against the government paying for treatment, claiming that individuals should be in charge of their own health, the devastation of Voldemort's reign convinced the Wizengamont that such a bill was necessary. For, in the war, many witches and wizards had been attacked because they were muggleborn, 'blood traitors,' half-bloods, or simply unlucky. And many of them had struggled to pay for necessary and often expensive medical treatment. Therefore, the moderate faction had allied with the light faction of the Wizengamont to ensure that part of the bill passed.
While the argument over whether or not the government should pay for the treatments was heated, most of it had occurred behind closed doors prior to the actual session. Where the time was mostly spent was actually in the definition of "dark magic, curses, hexes, and such." While most of the Wizengamont members had simply taken that statement at face value, some members looked into the appendices of the document to read through each and every example of "dark magic, curses, hexes, and such." This is where the problems began. For, in that list, Sirius (well really Ted as he was the lawyer) had added one extremely controversial example of a dark curse- Lycanthropy. By placing lycanthropy under the list of dark curses, the bill proposed that the government view it as a treatable medical condition. And, more importantly, provide subsidized access to the wolfsbane potion.
The goal behind this decision was simple, to improve the lives and rights of werewolves. With regular, inexpensive access to wolfsbane, most werewolves could work all but one day a month. They could retain control of their minds, ending the cycle of self-mutilation the moon brought on. They were no longer dangerous. Sirius believed that if the bill passed, and werewolves took advantage of the wolfsbane, he could soon pass further legislation to bar discrimination against victims of lycanthropy in the workplace. It was a difficult goal for sure, but an important one. After all, his best friend was a werewolf. But currently, it appeared the bill would fail because of one person. Umbridge.
"Werewolves are a curse upon civilized society!" she had spat early in the debate. "Providing them with access to the wolfsbane potion will not make them harmless! No! These dark creatures will take advantage of the fact they have control over their minds and attack helpless young witches and wizards! They will hunt us down, and kill us. We CANNOT let the government pay for a potion that will lead to the death of us all!"
"If they have access to the wolfsbane potion, a werewolf is no different from any other wizard. Do you go out and attack young witches and wizards simply because it is the full moon?" Sirius shouted back, his blood boiling.
"No I do not. But the matter is completely different. I am a witch, while werewolves are vile, disgusting, dark creatures. It is in their nature to attack!"
Sirius had so wanted to point out that he knew a werewolf who happened to be the most mild-mannered, bookish man he knew, but he couldn't do that to Remus. If word got out that he was a werewolf… well, he certainly wouldn't be able to keep his job at Hogwarts. So, instead, he merely pulled out the statistics regarding werewolf attacks over the last three decades.
"As you can see," he summarized after reading though several pages, "ninety percent of werewolf attacks were perpetrated by three known werewolves. And, the majority was by Fenrir Greyback. The remaining ten percent were a result of broken containment. Half of the people responsible for those attacks either turned themselves in- despite the penalty being execution- or committed suicide before authorities could respond. Providing the wolfsbane potion will only help the community. Yes, Greyback would likely use it as a way to target more victims. But he is already a wanted criminal. If he showed up to St. Mungos, law enforcement would simply arrest him. Lycanthropy is a curse. These people do not ask for it. They do not want it. But they suffer all the same. We have the power to help them, why would we not?" Sirius could see his appeal of logic working on some people, but not enough. Umbridge, leading the opposition, used hate and fear to sway people back. Unfortunately, the wizarding world was often too fast to ignore facts and listen to emotions. The muggles' use of logic was something he appreciated about their world. He even found he used logic far more than he used to.
After several hours of intense debate, or maybe shouting would be a better description, a recess was called. The Wizengamont would reconvene tomorrow and vote on the matter. So, at six thirty, an exhausted Sirius looked over at Frank.
"Grab a drink? I think I need one before heading home," Sirius explained.
"I'm down. I flooed Alice during the afternoon recess to let her know it looked like we were going to be here for a while. She said she would let Aletha know."
"Thanks, you're the best. Where do you want to go?"
"You down for the Leaky Cauldron? I could do with some firewhiskey."
Sirius sighed. Ever since the quidditch game, Frank, Matthew, and Amelia had been pressuring him to go out in the wizarding world more. "I suppose, I'm in robes at least. Help me down the stairs?"
The one good thing about going out in the wizarding world more was that Sirius had stopped trying to walk everywhere. He still made an effort when attending Wizengamont sessions, as image really was everything. (He had been particularly annoyed when during the session following the quidditch match someone had asked why they should listen to the 'crippled Lord who couldn't even walk.' To which he had responded 'I'd rather not be able to walk than not have two brain cells to rub together.' The man had simply looked at him confused, but it made Sirius feel better). But, as he was exhausted from standing all day (up and down every time he spoke), and they were headed to the pup, Sirius decided that walking was just too much effort.
Making their way through the Ministry, the two chatted about their plans for the summer, greeting acquaintances on their way. Reaching the atrium, the pair flooed to the Leaky Cauldron and ordered firewhiskeys. Just as they finished their second drink, the pleasant evening went to hell.
Four men, dressed in dark robes that obscured their faces, entered the pub. The four looked around the pub until they saw Frank and Sirius, and then began making their way over.
"Looks like we're about to have company," Frank whispered.
Sirius glanced at the men, noticing their wands were hidden in their sleeves, ready to use. "They're reading to attack," he agreed. "Don't start anything but be ready?"
"Agreed. You shield, I'll attack?"
Sirius nodded, slipping his wand into his hand, and rotating himself to face the men as they drew closer. He saw Frank's demeanor shift from relaxed to a tense stance he remembered from when he used to work with Frank. He might not look it, but Frank was one of the best.
Just as the men were within ten feet of the two, the tallest man spoke. "You think you can get away with this?" He asked, his voice full of hate and anger.
"Get away with what?"
"Giving those things," he spat, "access to wolfsbane potion. On OUR galleon!"
Sirius glanced at Frank. He figured some people would be annoyed at him for the bill, but he hadn't expected this. At least not so soon. Frank simply shrugged back, indicating he was just as surprised. But before either man could respond, the tallest man fired a red beam of light at Sirius.
"Protego!" he shouted just in time, the shield deflecting the curse at the last moment.
Someone else in the pub screamed, causing people to panic as all four attackers began firing. Frank stood quickly, whipping out his wand and casting a stunner. Surprised, the man on the end was caught unaware, falling down. Sirius, who was stuck sitting in the booth, cast a stronger shield around both him and Frank.
"Call the Aurors Tom!" he shouted as yet another curse hit his shield.
Frank continued to fire back with a serious of stunners, incarcerouses, and body-binds, but their attackers were not limited to non-lethal spells.
Sirius felt his shield fail as what appeared to be an entrails-exploding curse hit it. "Damn it," he muttered, bringing up another shield, but not before a cutting curse hit Frank in his off arm. Another man fell, as Frank shot back a quick series of stunners, until the man's shield failed.
With only two men left, Sirius sent a look to Frank, who nodded in return. Suddenly, he dropped the shield, and the two sent a rapid succession of curses at the remaining attacker. Both attackers brought up shields, but the pure volume of stunners eventually broke through, bringing down the remaining attackers.
Frank sat down, grabbing a napkin from the table to staunch the bleeding on his arm as the Aurors apparated in. "Bind them," he commanded the Auror, who seemed shocked to find one of his bosses there, and the attackers already unconscious.
"Yes sir. Should I call in a medi-wizard?"
"No need," Sirius cut in. "I'll call one myself." Pulling out a cell phone (shielded against outside magic, which apparently was not that difficult to do), Sirius called Andromeda.
A few minutes later, Andromeda apparated in, a displeased look on her face.
"They started it," Sirius muttered.
"Even so, you still manage to call me asking for help. You do realize I was enjoying a lovely dinner with my husband and daughter?"
"Sorry," Sirius replied sheepishly. "And I called you for Frank, not me."
Frank gave a little wave, as Andromeda did a once over of Sirius. Making her way down to his legs, she gave a little cough. "I think you missed something."
Sirius looked down at his legs, noticing they looked a little crooked. "Damn it," he muttered, "looks like an Ossis Effergo, guess they got one in while my shield was down."
"It looks like skelegro to me. Let me fix up Frank, then I'll deal with you."
A few healing spells and minutes later, Frank's arm was fixed, and he was busy talking to Amelia, who had been called by one of the Aurors when they found out Frank was involved.
"Alright. Have you finished giving your statement? I'd prefer to do this at you house so you don't move around too much."
"I'm finished. Not to mention Amelia knows where to find me. Apparate back?" Sirius asked, transferring to his chair (and trying very hard not to bang his legs. He couldn't feel them, but the more damage there was, the more likely Andromeda was to vanish the bones).
Andromeda nodded and disapperated with a pop, moments before Sirius. Back at the house, she had Sirius lay down in his bed as she cast a diagnostic charm. "I think it might be better to vanish and regrow the bones. Both the tibia and fibula were broken in more than one place. They will heal better that way. The reason we don't usually do that is because it is quite painful and you cannot take a pain potion with skelegro."
"Which won't be a problem for me."
"Right. It will however take about twenty-four hours for the bones to heal completely, so I'm going to splint them first. What are you doing tomorrow?"
"Wizengamont session in the morning."
Andromeda sighed. "No walking or standing at all. You will have to trust me and wait at least until tomorrow night. Okay?"
"Yes mother."
Andromeda shook her head as she vanished the bones and handed Sirius a vile of skelegro. Holding his nose, he drank the potion in one go, wincing at the taste.
16 June 2006
The next morning Sirius picked up a copy of the Daily Prophet on his way into the ministry. Right on the front page was a picture of him and Frank sitting at the Leaky Cauldron as Andromeda healed Frank's arm, the attackers lying stunned and bound in the background.
"Quite an evening you had," Matthew said stepping alongside Sirius as he made his way to the elevator.
"It was indeed."
"Chair today?"
Sirius pointed to his lower legs, "Regrowing some bones. I guess I'm lucky I can't feel it."
"Had to regrow a knee after colliding with the ground during a quidditch game. Nasty stuff skelegro is."
"Tastes awful too. How do you think the vote will go this morning?"
"I think the bill just might pass. The fact that you and Frank were attacked as a direct result of arguing for the bill seems to have worked in your favor."
Sirius laughed. "Next thing you know they'll accuse me of hiring them to attack. And, by the way, this never happens to me at muggle bars."
"You never know, it could have. But loo at the bright side, you just might succeed this morning."
Sirius snorted in amusement, "Fend off an attack to pass a bill?"
"Something like that."
An hour later, Sirius was tense with anticipation. He had made his final remarks on the bill (Really the same things he had said yesterday, but Matthew appeared to be right. When he spoke sitting down, people whispered about the attack and seemed more thoughtful. He could play the pity card when it suited him) and the vote was about to be cast.
"All in favour of the bill, raise your wand," Madam Marchbanks announced. Sirius looked around the room, desperately trying to count the wands.
"All against the bill raise your wand." Several people raised their wands, but far fewer than he would have expected.
"All who abstain." Only three raised their wands. Sirius noted that yesterday they had been against.
"The final tally is 32 for, 15 against, 3 abstain. The bill is passed." Sirius let out the breath he had been holding and looked over at Frank. Another victory.